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Duke   University  Libraries 

The  brand  pluck 
Conf  Pam  l2mo  #689 


No.  114. 

THE  BRAND  PLUCKED  FROM  THE  FIRE. 

A  BURNING  AND    SHINING  LIGHT  IN 
CAMP,  BATTLE,  AND   DEATH. 


Enoch  Colman  was  born  in  the  year  1800,  at  Long- 
hope,  Gloucestershire,  where  he  followed  the  laboring 
line  until  his  eighteenth  year.  His  parents,  though 
poor,  were  mindful  of  sending  him  to  school,  where  he 
acquired  the  knowledge  of  reading  and  writing;  but, 
like  the  generality  of  children,  he  early  commenced  to 
tread  the  paths  of  wickedness,  which  insensibly  led 
him  to  forget  the  things  that  belonged  to  his  salvation. 

On  the  28th  November,  1817,  at  Gloucester,  he  en- 
tered the  regiment,  and   in   the  year   1818  arrived 

at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  he  continued  to  live 
in  sin,  daily  rioting  in -all  the  pleasures  of  dissipation, 
being  unmindful  of  the  great  essential  duty  of  an  im- 
mortal soul,  of  serving  and  loving  his  Creator.  Daily 
he  drunk  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  cup  of  guilt,  being 
led  captive  by  the  Devil  at  his  will,  living  without  hope 
and  without  God  in  the  word,  running  heedlessly  in  the 
broad  road  to  destruction.  Conscience,  that  faithful 
monitor,  frequently  admonished  him  of  his  sin,  but 
these  convictions  were  soon  erased;  but  when  the  ful- 
ness of  time  was  come,  the  Saviour  sought  his  lost  and 
wandering  sheep,  and  brought  him  into  his  fold.  It 
was  in  the  year  1820,  while  at  the  Cape,  lie  was  led 
to  attend  the  Wesleyan  Chapel  in  that  place.  The 
preached  word  became  effectual  to  the  salvation  of  his 
soul,  the  arrow  of  conviction  was  sent  into  his  heart. 
The  polished  shaft,  winged  from  the  bow  of  mercy, 
entered  his  guilty  mind,  and  filled  him  with  heart-felt 
sorrow  for  his  numbe'rless  sins.  For  many  months  he 
remained  a  weary,  heavy  laden  sinner,  seeking  rest  and 
finding  none,  until  a  messenger,  even  the  Eternal  Spirit, 
was  sent  to  speak  peace  to  his  afflicted  soul,  and  pour 
the  gospel  balm  into  the  wounded  conscience.  From 
this  period  he  went  forth  with  a  glad  heart,  rejoicing  in 
the  God  of  his  salvation.     His  constant  theme  was, 


THE    BRAND    PLUCKED    FROM    THE    FIRE. 


O  for  a  hesrt  to  praise  my  God, 

A  heart  from  guilt  set  free — 
A  heait  sprinkled  with  that  blood 

So  freely  shed  for  me. 

For  months  he  stood  a  solitary  pilgrim  in  the  regi- 
ment, but  having  tasted  the  good  word  of  life,  and 
knowing  the  inestimable  value  of  immortal  souls,  his 
spirit  panted  to  communicate  it  to  others.  He,  there- 
fore, commenced  entreating  his  old  friends  to  attend  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Most  High,  and  his  public  efforts  were 
abundantly  blessed  to  the  salvation  of  three  of  his  com- 
panions. This  was  the  glorious  era  when  a. Christian 
society  was  formed  in  the  regiment,  which  has  con- 
tinued to  this  day.  It  has  been  the  birthplace  of  many 
perishing  sinners;  many  who  are  now  living  can  look 
back,  and  say  that  it  was  by  the  instrumentality  of 
pious  soldiers  that  they  were  brought  from  darkness  to 
light,  and  liberated  from  the  captivity  of  sin  and  Satan; 
yea,  many  now  in  glory,  who  "  have  washed  their  robes, 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,"  can 
boast  of  being  converted  in  a  soldier's  chapel,  and 
under  a  soldier's  preaching,  "for  the  Lord  despiseth 
not  the  day  of  small  things/' 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  having  arrived  in 
Bengal  in  1822,  proceeded  to  Berhampore,  where  the 
Christian  Church  was  re-established,  and  lie  became 
zealous  in  inviting  sinners  to  "the  Lamb  of  God  that 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  His  pious  efforts 
were  abundantly  crowned  with  success.  The  words 
that  came  from  his  lips  were  plain,  forcible,  and  scrip- 
tural, owned  of  God,  and  blessed  to  the  souls  of  sinners. 
It  was  at  this  period  that  his  character  shone  with  all 
the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  he  was  a  true  representative  of 
his  Lord  and  Master,  a  "living  epistle,  seen  and  read 
of  all  men."  The  holiness  of  his  life  was  like  a  sun- 
beam, reflecting  light  and  glory  all  around  ;  it  was 
written  legibly  in  his  walk  and  conversation. 

The  meekness  and  humility  that  adorned  his  life 
were  seen  and  admired  by  all;  lie  was  noted  even  by 
the  wicked,  as  "the  meek  and  quiet  Methodist;"  these 
graces  were  beautifully  expanded  in  his  dealings  with 
mankind.     It  is  said  that  many  profane  characters  have 


THE    BRAND    PLUCKED    FROM    THE    FIRE.  3 

laid  wagers  against  one  another  to  ruffle  and  vex  his 
spirit,  but  they  never  succeeded;  when  he  learnt  their- 
design,  he  would  say  with  his  usual  smile,  "  you  can- 
not vex  me."  It  appeared  that  he  had  gained  a  com- 
plete ascendency  over  his  temper,  for  after  he  became  a 
subject  of  divine  grace  he  was  never  known  to  be 
angry,  or  in  a  passion. 

His  warnings  to  others  against  sin  were  impressive 
and  solemn,  for  he  had  tasted  of  the  bitterness  of  the 
cup  of  guilt,  that  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked,  there- 
fore he  always  reproved  sin  with  boldness.  At  all 
times  he  was  anxious  to  inform  others  of  what  the  Lord 
had  done  for  his  soul,  and  what  he  was  waiting  to  do 
for  them,  if  they  would  but  seek  him.  He  watched 
attentively  over  his  brethren,  and  when  any  of  them 
neglected  their  duty,  lie  would  cautiously  and  prudently 
admonish  them,  and  tell  them  the  sad  consequences  of 
it,  always  exhorting  them  to  persevere  and  to  beware  of 
falling  away,  knowing  that 

n  Life  is  the  hour  that  God  has  given 
To  escape  from  hell  and  fly  to  heaven." 

He  was  very  spiritually  minded.  It  was  his  da:ly 
custom  to  appoint  an  hour  to  meditate  on  divine  things, 
and  when  thus  engaged  if  he  happened  to  meet  any  of 
the  brethren,  he  would  look  up  to  heaven  and  say: 

"  Now  T  can  read  my  title  clear 
To  mansions  in  the  sky." 

During  the  severe  expedition  against  the  Burman 
empire,  which  commenced  in  1824,  and  continued  to 
1826,  he  was  continually  employed  in  doing  good.  As 
soon  as  his  day's  fatigue  was  over  he  would  visit  the 
sick,  exhorting  them  to  seek  salvation  in  the  Lamb  of 
God,  whose  blood  pardoneth  all  sin,  and  at  night  he 
would  repair  to  a  shed  which  was  built  by  the  pious 
soldiers,  and  there  conduct  worship  to  the  praise  and 
glory  of  God,  and  to  the  comfort  of  immortal  souls. 

And  during  that  expedition,  when  it  has  been  his 
turn  of  duty  to  stand  on  a  dangerous  post,  some  of  his 
comrades  have  offered  to  stand  in  his  place,  he  would 
thank  them  and  say,  you  are  not  afraid  to  expose  your- 
self, and  why  should  I  be  ? 


4  THE    BRAND    PLUCKED    FROM    THE    FIRE. 

His  faith,  hope,  and  charity  were  of  a  purely  Chris- 
tian kind.  His  faith  was  vivid,  and  firmly  and  implic- 
itly built  on  the  promises  of  Scripture;  he  frequently 
realized  the  glorious  hope  of  immgrtality  and  life,  and 
ail  his  actions  sprung  from  pure  disinterested  love.  He 
was  a  firm  supporter  of  every  Christian  institution,  and 
liberally  contributed  to  every  Christian  purpose. 

Thus  lived  this  humble  servant  of  the  Lord  in  the 
army,  where  there  are  many  trials,  temptations,  and 
difficulties  to  encounter,  but  he  found  the  truth  of  the 
Saviour's  promise  verified  to  his  believing  soul  :  "  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  you,  my  strength  is  made  perfect 
in  weakness." 

It  was  remarked  that  the  Sabbath  preceding  his  death 
he  was  engaged  in  public  prayer  on  the  bank  of  the 
River  Ganges  as  the  regiment  was  proceeding  to  Cawn- 
pore,  in  October,  1827.  He  prayed  that,  as  probably  it 
would  be  the  last  earthly  Sabbath  that  he  would  enjoy, 
he  hoped  that,  ere  long,  he  would  enjoy  that  eternal 
Sabbath  of  consummate  bliss  which  is  prepared  for  the 
people  of  God. 

His  prayer  was  very  soon  verified,  for  the  following 
day  a  violent  storm  arose,  and  the  boat  in  which  he 
sailed  was  wrecked,  while  himself  and  eight  more  sunk 
into  the  deep,  and  I  have  every  hope  that  his  immortal 
soul  took  its  eternal  flight  into  the  regions^f  immortality 
and  bliss. 

This  history  furnishes  the  greatest  encouragement  to 
those  who  may  have  previously  run  into  great  excess 
in  wickedness.  Such,  in  their  reflecting  moments,  are 
sometimes  apt  to  suppose  they  are  too  far  gone  to  be 
recovered,  or  to  receive  mercy.  But  here  we  see  such 
a  one  restored  to  his  right  mind,  and  while  enjoying 
that  peace  of  God  which  passeth  understanding  after- 
ward walking  steadfastly  in  newrness  of  life.  Think  of 
the  encouraging  language  of  holy  writ,  "Let  the  wicked 
forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts, 
and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have 
mercy  upon  him,  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly 
pardon."      Isa.  Iv,  7. 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOUTH  CAROLINA  TRACT  SOCIETY. 

Printed  by  Evans  &  Cogswell.  No.  3  Broad  street,  Charleston,  S.  C. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


